Why Ramirez and not Viola?

RHP Ramon Ramirez arrived today to take Nick Masset’s place on the 25-man roster. Some people were wondering why Ramirez, who was 0-3 with a 5.08 ERA, was promoted when a guy like lefty Pedro Viola wasn’t. Viola is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA but he wasn’t on the 40-man roster and Ramirez was.

“We threw around Viola,” manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s doing pretty good. He’s a little inconsistent. He’s coming fast but we would have had to take a chance on losing someone by taking them off [the 40-man roster] in order to get Viola on. There were no names we could come up with.

“Then we said if it’s not Viola, which righties get lefties out best right now? So it was Ramon. Plus, he’s had a taste of the big leagues. He’s relieved, started, gone long and done lots of things. And he pitched well for us last year.”

Viola probably didn’t help himself by allowing four earned runs and three walks over a third of an inning during his last outing on May 15. Ramirez, who will be a swing man out of the Reds bullpen, has allowed three runs on eight hits over his last 15 innings. He threw a career-high eight innings on May 10.

Here is the adjusted rotation, which puts several guys back on their fifth day after the havoc in San Diego.

Weds: HarangThu: OwingsFri: VolquezSat. ArroyoSun: Cueto

Edinson Volquez, who had back spasms on Saturday, isn’t a lock yet. But he seemed to be doing OK today.

“We’ll see. I hope so,” Baker said.

1B Joey Votto (dizziness) is still out of the lineup. Votto and head trainer Mark Mann were still at a 2 p.m. doctor appointment. I will update later when I know something.

LATE UPDATE: No real news on Votto. He has more doctor appointments scheduled and he wasn’t talking. Here is the link to the story:

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3 Comments

Mark,
Is there a reason that the Reds continue to include Darnell McDonald in the lineup when he is batting so poorly, while Laynce Nix has proven himself in the field and at the plate? Why not just play Nix everyday, or better yet, bring up Jonny Gomes and send McDonald back down to the minors? The Reds sure could have used some extra offense tonight, and McDonald certainly was not providing it.
-JK

Gomes seems to be finding his stroke in Louisville right now and McDonald hasn’t had his since spring training when all he saw was fastballs. He’s also pressing and swinging at pitches nowhere near the strike zone. These are two compelling reasons to switch Gomes and McDonald but since it makes so much sense I don’t think it will happen.

Also, good point river on the 60 day DL making it easier to bring Viola up without risking a roster player, if that is indeed the rule. Sometimes I think we get too much [Manager speak] from Dusty.

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